WITH the signing of a 442 billion rupee contract with a joint venture of Power-China and Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), the construction of Diamer-Bhasha Dam is now in sight and there is every reason to believe that the reservoir would be there in eight years as envisaged in the agreement. Prompt signing of the accord is reflection of the fact that all concerned are making efforts for timely mobilization of all resources for physical construction to begin on the vital project.
The very fact that the contract has been awarded to a prominent Chinese company having a track record of delivering quality projects on time is itself a positive development for materialization of the dream to build the mega hydro-power project in the given timeframe which assumes importance in the backdrop of repeated delays in achieving any meaningful progress towards construction of Diamer-Bhasha. Power-China already has a sizeable presence in Pakistan as it has completed 40 projects worth $6 billion in different areas and sectors of Pakistan’s economy especially energy sector which are becoming a successful model of energy cooperation between Pakistan and China. Thermal, hydro and wind power projects undertaken with the cooperation of Power-China are contributing significantly to socio-economic development and overcoming energy shortage in the country. Power-China has long been engaged in the core business areas of water and electricity and has established itself as a leading enterprise in the hydropower industry both in China and abroad. It is among global leaders in hydro, wind and photovoltaic power generation.
The Company has undertaken more than 80 per cent of the planning, surveying and design of large and medium-sized hydropower projects in China. Power-China has participated in the design and construction of many world-renowned water conservancy and hydropower projects, including the South-to-North Water Diversion Middle Route Project —— the world’s largest and longest water transfer project, and the Xiaolangdi Water Control Project on the Yellow River ——China’s key Yellow River development and management project, which makes China the world’s leading hydropower country. The company has built over 200 large and medium-sized hydropower stations and has a total installed hydropower capacity of more than 200 million kilowatts. It is also encouraging that the local partner of the company – Frontier Works Organization – which is considered to be a most vibrant and versatile construction firm in Pakistan having delivered scores of quality projects within the stipulated timeframe and cost. The Company has a commitment to improvement of national infrastructure and completed several mega projects including Gomal Zam Dam in challenging environment. Its active association with Power-China in the construction of Diamer-Bhasha Dam also means much as engineers and technicians would learn from their Chinese counterparts on a project which would be supervised by Joint Venture DBCG comprising 12 top-ranked national and foreign consulting firms having a vast experience of providing consultancy services for mega water projects the world over. Credit also goes to the PTI Government for achieving two milestones within one year – start of work on Mohmand Dam after delays of five decades and construction of Diamer-Bhasha Dam.
